Apr
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that can rob you of quality sleep. If you suffer from OSA, you may actually stop breathing multiple times during the night. Some people wake up suddenly gasping for breath. Others snore loudly throughout the night due to obstructed air passages. Through oral appliance therapy, your Rochester, Michigan dentist at John L. Aurelia, D.D.S., PLLC, can help you manage OSA symptoms using a dental device to improve the quality of your sleep.
Here’s what you should know about oral appliance therapy.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by blocked airways as you sleep. During sleep, your throat and tongue muscles relax, causing soft tissues to collapse and block your airways. This makes it difficult to breathe. Oral appliance therapy uses special dental devices to keep your airways open as you sleep so you can breathe normally and get the rest you need.
CPAP machines offer the best solution to managing OSA symptoms. For this treatment, you wear a mask connected to a hose that blows air into your airways to keep them open as you sleep. If you’re not comfortable with this treatment, Dr. Aurelia can recommend more portable oral devices that help accomplish the same result.
1. Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) – These devices are similar to mouth guards for teeth grinding. They’re placed on your upper and lower teeth at night to help shift your jaw forward as you sleep, keeping your airways open so you can breathe. In so doing, MADs help decrease lapses in your breathing and minimize snoring so you (and your partner!) can get a good night’s sleep
2. Tongue-stabilizing device (TSD) – This device pulls your tongue forward as you sleep to keep it from blocking your airways. With more air coming through, you’ll breathe easier and sleep more profoundly
Dr. Aurelia can customize your oral appliances to help you get optimal results
To learn more about our OSA treatments, contact your Rochester, MI dentist, Dr. John Aurelia, at (248) 243-6044.